Brake mechanism for vehicles.



PATBNTED AUG. 30, 1904.

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llllllllllllll/ H. DIXON.

BRAKE MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION P ILED JULY 23, 1903.

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No. 768,933. Patented August so, 1904.

UNIT-ED STATES PATENT ()FFICE. I

HARRY DIXON, OF TORONTO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO GRIFFIN S. AOKLEY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AND OBADIAH S. MILLS, OF TUNKHANNOOK, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRAKE MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,9S3,datel A gust 30, 1904.

Original application filed February 19, 1903, Serial No. 144,164. Divided and this application filed July 23, 1903. Serial No.166,775. (No model.)

T l wh it m y COHOWW with a similar object in view; but the means Be it known that I, HARRY DIXON,Of the city employed to make more perfect the handof Toronto, in the county of York and Provbrake have. in many instances demonstrated ince of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain the impracticability of their mechanism for 5 new and useful Improvements in Brake Mechrapid and continuous braking of cars. It anisms for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare must be borne in mind that perfection in a that the following is a full, clear, and exact brake device permits of a variation in the description thereof, reference being had to the length of chain or cable wound upon the drum accompanying drawings, which form part of in operating the brakes Without curtailing the 55 this specification. advantages derived from the increased lever- The present invention is a division of my age relatively proportionate to the applied application, Serial No. 144,164, filed Februbraking force. Owing to the constant wearary 19, 1903, and relates particularly to that ing away of the brake-shoes and the intermitclass of brake-operating mechanism for vetent variation of the mechanism due to 011- 60 I 5 hicles in which the operative elements give matic changes the length of chain wound upon an increase of leverage relatively proportionthe drum varies materially'in maintaining a ate to the applied braking force and more uniform braking force. equally distributing the total output of energy The invention consists, inpart, of the appliexpended by the motorman or operator during cation of antifriction-bearings to reduce the 5 2 the rotation of the brake post or spindle, makfriction of the primal operating element to a ing more efiicient the hand-brake. It is genminimum, of the detachable casing to protect eral in its application, and particularly a valuthe mechanism against injury, dust, &c., and able adjunct to the present hand braking of the manner in which the brake chain or camechanism of electrically-propelled or trolley ble is made fast to the drum. 7 2 5 cars. To such ends the invention consists in the The characteristic features of the present inconstruction and combination of parts hereinvention are to embody in a compensating deafter particularly described and claimed, refvice means to take up rapidly the lost motion erence being had to the accompanying drawof the brake mechanism of the car with a ings, forming part thereof, in which similar 75 3 minimum angular movement of the brakefiguresof reference refertolikepartsthroughhandle, to utilize with advantage the saving out. thus made, to more effectually apply with a Figure 1 is a top plan View of the improved gradually-increasing force the brake-shoe to brake-operating mechanism with a portion of the wheels by a relatively proportionate inthe casing removed to more clearly show the so crease of the angular movement of the brakeoperating elements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal handle, and to maintain a maximum braking sectional view of Fig. 1, showing the adaptaforce for a considerable degree of the major tion of ball-bearings to the primal operating portion of the said angular movement of the element. Fig. 3 is a central horizontal secbrake-handle. The augmented braking force tional View of the brake chain drum, showing 5 4 is suflicient to cause cessation of movement in the integral eccentric and concentric peripha comparatively short distance with a minicry; and Fig. 4 is a plan view showing diamum expenditure of energy by the operator grammatically the manner of applying the and to dispense with the objectionable feature brake-operating mechanism. of additional turns of the brake-handle over The actuating elements of the brake-oper- 9 and above that found practical for rapid brakating device are carried in a substantial frame ing of cars. Appliances have been devised and inclosed by a casing and located under the platform adjacent to the present brakepost for convenience in operation by the motorman or brakeman. The present brake post or spindle and its appurtenances can be employed with but few changes and serve as the actuating medium for the improved brakeoperating device. The construction and design are liberal throughout, rigidity being an essential feature, as will be readily understood by those versed in the construction of car mechanism. The frame for convenience and to facilitate in assembling of the actuating elements consists of an upper and lower portion 1 and 2, respectively, lying parallel of one another and secured together by studs and nuts 3. To give ample clearance for the operation of the brake-chain and permit of access to the mechanism after removing the easing, a skeleton frame is employed the contour of which resembles that of the letter Y. The extremities of the upper portion 1 and the lateral terminations of the uprights 4: of the lower portion 2 of the frame are similar and in juxtaposition, forming the lugs 5, by which the device is supported and secured by bolts to the under side of the platform. The lower extremity of the brake-post 6 passes downward through the upper and lower portions 1 and 2, respectively, of the frame and serves as the spindle for the pinion 7, carried fast thereon by a key or feather, preferably the latter, permitting the withdrawal readily of the brake-post 6. Pivoted between the upper and lower portions of the frame and meshing with the aforesaid pinion 7 there is a spurgear 8, integral with the brake-chain drum 9. The ratio of the spur-gear 8 and pinion 7 is relatively proportionate to the diameter of the drum 9 and the length of chain to be wound thereon and is found preferable to range between two to one and three to one. In alinement with and parallel of the spindle 6 is a vertically-disposed stud or stud-bolt 10, terminally fixed in the upper and lower portions of the frame, and to guard against displacement of the stud-bolt 10 through the loss of the nut the head is on the upper side of the frame and locked by a shoulder projecting from the boss, as shown.

By the adaptation of ball-bearings to the present device, particularly the primal operating elementthat is, the brake-chain drum 9the friction is reduced to a minimum when operating under a heavy strain. In this instance balls having a large diameter are employed, and ball-races 11, correspondingly large for their reception, are formed in the hub and flange of the spur-gear 8 and drum 9, respectively. Carried fixedly upon the studbolt 10 and of sufiicient length to be gripped between the inner faces of the frame is the sleeve 12, integral with the upper cone 13 and adjustable with the lower cone 1 1, said lower cone provided with an adjusting-nut and locknut, as shown. This arrangement will permit of removing and replacing of the aforesaid brake-chain drum and integral gear without disturbing the adjustment of the bearing.

It is apparent from the foregoing that although advantageous the adaptation of ballbearings is not an indispensable feature of this invention. Roller-bearings may be substituted or plain bearings should the circumstances warrant such.

By referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that that portion of the drum 9 upon which the brake-chain 15 is wound has anirregularcontour comprising an integral eccentric and concentric periphery 16 and .17, respectively. Commencing at the greatest radius of the drum, at which point the chain is made fast,

the slack of the brake-chain is taken up rapidly, gradually diminishing with an increas ing purchase by the major portion 16 of the drum, the maximum leverage being reached in a half-revolution of the drum, the position shown in Fig. 3. The minor or concentric portion 17 of the drum remains to take up any additional chain without increasing the turning moment per unit length of chain, which is a desideratum, in part the advantages alluded to in the preamble of this specification. The manner of attaching the brakechain to the drum is a novel feature of this invention, and the means employed are simple and 'eflicient, permitting readily the attaching and detaching of the chain. In the central portion of the periphery and at the greatest radius of the drum is formed a pocket or recess 18 to receive the terminal link of the brake-chain 15, through which passes the bolt 19, as shown.

Inclosing the greater portion of the mechanism is a detachable casing 20 and a shield 21, integral with the upper portion of the frame, the remaining uninclosed portion accommodating the operation of the brake-chain. The manner of securing the detachable casing is unimportant. Any well-known means may be employed.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a brake-actuating mechanism, the combination with the brake-post and pinion on the lower end of said post, of a brake-actuating drum comprising an integral eccentric and concentric periphery, agear in mesh with said pinion and operating said drum, and a brakechain attached to said drum and adapted to operate with avariable leverage, substantially as set forth.

2. In a brake-actuating mechanism, the combination with the brake-post, of a pinion on the lower end of said post, a gear in mesh with said pinion, and a brake-chain drum havinga periphery eccentric and concentric to said geari,1 substantially as and for the purpose set fort 3. In abrake-actuatingmechanism,the combination with the brake-actuating drum and gear, of an integral eccentric and concentric periphery, a brake chain attached to said drum and adapted to operate with a variable leverage, and a pinion in mesh with said gear and actuated by the brake-post, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a brake-actuating mechanism the combination with the brake-actuating drum and gear, of a recess formed in the periphery of said drum and adapted to receivethe terminal link of the brake-chain, and a bolt adapted to pass through said link and integral with said drum, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a brake-actuating mechanism, the combination with ball-bearings, of a brake-actuating drum and gear, the hub of said drum adapted for the reception of said bearings and up-.

per and lower cones interspaced by the balls, a sleeve integral with one of said cones and adjustable with the other, and means for adjusting said cones, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

forming lateral lugs for securing said frame to the platform of the car, of a brake-post journaled in" said frame, a pinion on the lower end of said post and interspacing said frame, a vertically-disposed stud carrying a gear in mesh with said pinion, a brake-actuating drum HARRY DIXON.

Witnesses STANLEY J. PALMER,

E. DIXON. 

